Staging a home can sound like a daunting task, but there are several ways you can set yourself and your home up for success and appeal to homebuyers. The goal of staging is to show potential buyers the house’s potential so they fall in love and want to live there. Read on to learn a few simple tips on how to stage your home to sell. Don’t forget to come by John Elliott Interiors to consult our team of experts. We can advise you with design strategy, current trends that appeal to buyers, and suggestions for furniture and décor pieces to stage in your home.

Most importantly, make sure your home is clean. A clean home will feel fresh and inviting. Dusting, vacuuming, and sweeping are all important, but not the only things you should do.

Windows make a big impact on a buyer. If your windows are smudged with dog nose prints and cluttered with cobwebs, a buyer may be turned off as soon as they walk through the door. Bright, shining windows make your house feel fresh and open.

Outdoor space is something that often gets neglected by sellers. Make sure your lawn is well manicured – use the mower and weed eater. Check all flower beds and gardens to make sure they aren’t overgrown with weeds. An out-of-control garden will look less like a perk and more like a burdensome project for potential buyers.

If possible, use a power washer on your driveway and the siding of your house. Dirt and grime accumulate on siding and make houses look dingy. You wouldn’t believe what a big difference a clean slate will make!

Before you show the house, always do a smell test. You may not be able to recognize a smell you’re used to, so pay attention next time you walk in from outside. If an unpleasant or stale odor hits your prospective home buyers as soon as they walk in the door, they likely won’t have a good impression. If there is a problem, air out the house with open windows and fans, and use light air fresheners (not heavy room sprays).

You don’t need to remodel your entire house to make a big impact.

If your wood floors look scratched and dull, get a quote on what it would take to refinish them. This will give your rooms a wow factor – buyers love to see clean, pristine flooring. If you can’t refinish the floors, use rugs in strategic places to cover the most worn areas in your home. Buyers’ eyes will be drawn to the design and other aspects of the room instead of the flaws in the floor.

In your kitchens and bathrooms, you can switch out the cabinet handles for a cost-effective update. New, shiny hardware is striking and can enhance the look of the whole room.

Buyers love storage! Walk through your house and make sure there are several locations where new homeowners would be able to store their belongings. Each room should have at least one place for storage. For bedrooms, this is typically a dresser. For bathrooms, making sure there is shelving for various toiletries, towels, etc. that buyers will want to store here.

Another way to make a big impact without spending a lot of cash is to update the front door. Everyone loves a beautiful entryway, and a great door is the most important element. Replace your old one with a sturdy, eye-catching door. If you have an old wooden door that's still in good shape, consider giving it a fresh coat of paint or stain to make it stand out and look new.

When getting down to placing furniture in your home, think about the way most people would like to use each space. You may like having a fully furnished weight room in your second bedroom, but it may appeal more to buyers set up as a guestroom or an office.

Neutral and light, airy colors are excellent picks to appeal to as many potential buyers as possible. Red may be your favorite color, but a grey couch could be a better choice to go with any palette the buyer has in mind.

As you choose where to place your furniture, think about the flow of the space and make sure it’s easy to walk from room to room. Group pieces together for a cohesive space. Rather than backing everything up to the wall, “float” the furniture at least a few inches away from the walls.

Decorations in each space should be simple and appealing to a broad audience as well. Fresh flowers are always a great choice as they brighten up a room and make the space feel welcoming. Replace family photos with framed art to draw your buyer’s eye around the room. (We have great art at John Elliott Interiors, by the way!) If arranging items on a coffee or end table, keep in mind that items in threes are most appealing to the eye.

Remember, when staging a home, you want potential buyers to envision themselves in the space, not necessarily show off your own great style. Keep spaces clean, make small but impactful updates to worn areas, and stage décor and furniture in a way that appeals to a broad range of styles. For classic staging pieces (and for your own new furniture), come see us at the best luxury furniture store at theLake of the Ozarks, JohnElliott Interiors. We have just the thing!